The future of prefabricated housing in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Pre-cast houses? Need not be outlandish for the home-aspiring Tamilian who for all the right reasons associates a home with attributes such as ‘solidity’ and ‘permanence’. A home is a place where you ‘settle down’. A house is an asset for future generations. And a home is a place that can offer the ultimate security. So, will the concept of modular or prefabricated homes ever find even a niche in the Tamilian mindset? YES, feels Pon Ravichandran.

So what exactly are modular, prefabricated / pre-cast and site-built houses?

While site-built homes are done entirely at the site, modular homes are built in sections at a factory. These sections are transported to the building site on truck beds and then, assembled, most probably by local contractors. Manufactured homes, on the other hand, are built on a non-removable steel chassis and then, transported to the site on their own wheels, which are removed once, the structure reaches the site.

The concept of prefabricated modular homes will take some time to find social acceptance here, especially in Tamil Nadu. But going forward, things will come to such a pass that people will find such modular homes attractive even if they are individual homes. They are cost effective and can be graded with modern fittings and amenities as a detailed plan of construction is readily available.

Even though housing continues to be a crucial issue in India, the concept of modular or prefabricated houses that could be assembled on site from pre-fabricated components has not yet caught upon here. There are two reasons for this, viz, the belief that pre-fabrication is only for the low economic segment and the mindset that prefabrication technology does not allow customisation required for a home.

Around 15 to 20 years back the idea of standardising construction products meant, starting from doors and windows and floor plans, everything is pre-set. Although this is true to a certain extent, pre-fab technology has come a long way since then. However, the awareness of this is still lacking among the consumer.

Doors and windows have been identified as the products in construction sector that are ready for standardisation. Already pre-fabricated doors and windows have started to become available, even though there has been no standardisation of their dimensions. With carpentry work accounting for a good part of the construction costs, any kind of respite is a welcome change for the builders. Next in line are the bathrooms and kitchens. Standardising bathroom products was also comparatively easier since many parts already arrive in modules in the local market. Though modular kitchens have started making inroads into Indian homes, these are only just a small segment of the building modules market.

For India, and especially for Tamil Nadu, thorough research and development is important before any steps are taken towards introducing the concept of completely prefabricated housing in the state. The material and building technology used in other countries may or may not be suitable for our climate. Also, their concept of a house, securities etc are quite different from ours.

The standardisation of building components might prove to be the biggest blessing for the construction segment, since it would help avoid the wastage generated during the work.
Often, people have to cut away the extra parts from sheets of glass, or flooring tiles have to be cut in half to fill up a room. With pre-fab even for individual homes, wastage can be reduced considerably and costs could be brought down significantly. But any steps in standardisation should be taken only through a process of close interaction between all the concerned parties in the construction segment like the builders, architects and structural engineers.

Though still foreign to our building terminology, sooner or later, these terms are bound to become part of our lexicon going by what the building industry experts say.

Latest Realty News

CHENNAI: The real estate sector is not getting adequate support from banks and policy makers despite its contribution to economic growth, according to Lalit Kumar Jain, Chairman, Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI).

CHENNAI: Buying property is a lifetime decision. Whether you buy it for end use or for the purpose of investment, it takes a lot of research and due diligence. No doubt, budget and location are among the primary factors that help in short-listing but the final decision is generally based on the combination of several other factors. Some of the top factors include the following.

CHENNAI: Czar’s is a luxury residential project at the upmarket R.A. Puram. The project from Real Value Promoters offers 18 apartments of 4,500 to 6,000 sq.ft with premium features. Priced at about Rs 29,300 a sq.ft, an apartment at the project will cost about Rs 14.5 crore to about Rs 20 crore.

CHENNAI: Over the last decade, VGN Developers has evolved from selling plotted layouts to developing residential projects in the suburbs to building high-end projects in the city. The transition has been in line with the trends in the residential market. VGN believes there is a huge demand for high-end homes in the city, which is a healthy and robust market in which prices have not crashed in three decades. Pratish Devadoss, Managing Director, shares some of the company’s plans and views on the

CHENNAI: Whilereal estate is one of the most popular asset classes, it requires a combination of knowledge and discipline to generate healthy returns on investment. Here are four steps that could help you in making a successful decision and reap rich rewards in the long term.

CHENNAI: With residential options ranging from multi-storey apartments to builder floors available within a wide budget of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 2 crore, Vadapalani is one of the most preferred residential locations in Central-west Chennai. Let’s take a closer look at what makes Vadapalani a locality of choice.